I spent part of my Sunday helping in the Nursery at our
church.
It was an experience.
Twenty little kids, ages 1 ½ to 3 years.
What do you call a group of toddlers?
A tantrum of toddlers?
A teeter?
Tumble?
It would be worth exploring.
I know what you call a group of parents/grandparents who
have spent the ensuing two hours with the little cretins. A tired.
But I digress . . .
This little group of boys and girls had been playing
happily.
Reading books. (I use this term lightly.)
Running.
Playing with puzzles. (Again used lightly.)
Running.
Throwing balls and other toys at each other.
Running.
‘Cooking’ such gourmet specialties as . . . trucks. Shoes. At
least one book. And two of the puzzle pieces we had been hunting for for over twenty
minutes.
Playing with dollies.
Fighting/tug-o-warring with said dollies.
Crying when dollies were put away in a safe place and other
toys introduced.
Running.
Falling off the slide.
Devouring snacks.
Devouring their neighbour’s snacks.
Running.
Before you think any of them were in any real danger, let me
disabuse you.
No one was in any real danger.
There were few tears (mostly at losing their tug-o-war prop)
and no injuries.
But I discovered something.
 |
| See? |
When a group of toddlers is running madly and the room is
started to resemble the streets of Edmonton after the Stanley Cup, all one has
to do is turn on the bubble machine.
It’s true. I watched it happen.
The bubbles instantly attracted (and held) the entire group
of toddlers.
They (the bubbles, I mean) floated gently into the air and
every child in the room stopped what they were doing and exclaimed, as one, “Oooooh!”
Then they ran to the blanket/blotter beside the machine and jumped and hopped,
trying to catch the little, dripping, glistening balls of wonder and amazement.
It was incredible. Magical.
Quiet.
I’m getting a machine like that!
P.S. I wonder if this would work on the mobs that form after
sporting events or political rallies? It's worth thinking about . . .
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| Who's with me?! |
ANYTHING to calm the angry masses is worth a try!
ReplyDeleteTwenty toddlers. My hat is off to the adults :)
Mine, too!
DeleteHey ... they're cheap and fun .... I'm all for it.
ReplyDeleteCheap and fun. Hmmm . . . how often can we say that?!
DeleteOnly if the bubbles were beer.
ReplyDeleteBwahahahaha!
DeleteNow you just need to see bubbles on a convention floor. All the cosplayers start chasing the bubbles just like that... :)
ReplyDeleteSee? Proof!
DeleteBubbles with kids are always a hit. I can't say that it's a calming activity, but tons of fun! I want to get one for the library this summer! :-)
ReplyDeleteI have to admit you're right. But at least they were bobbing up and down in the same spot! :)
DeleteI remember putting a bottle of bubble liquid complete with plastic wand in each of my kids Christmas stockings for years, then with the grandkids. Now I have a new great nephew, he'll be getting the bubbles as soon as he is a bit older.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tradition! I will have to try it!
DeleteI'm with you Diane... I need one of those bubble machines... anything that can entertain a toddler for some time is great ;-) ...
ReplyDeleteEven a few - gasp - seconds helps! :)
Delete